Aignish - cjhoose birthday song by Rebsie
Genre: Folk (traditional)
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Keywords:
Gaelic (6), Scottish (16), traditional (75)
Description:
I was very touched when cjhoose posted a tune for my birthday a couple of years ago, and I've been meaning to return the favour ever since ... except I couldn't remember when her birthday was. Well this year I remembered!
Knowing how much she cherishes her Scottish heritage I've sung her a nice cheery Gaelic song about graveyards.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE! :D
and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SLUMBERING AS WELL.
Knowing how much she cherishes her Scottish heritage I've sung her a nice cheery Gaelic song about graveyards.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE! :D
and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SLUMBERING AS WELL.
Lyrics:
AignishAn ciaradh m'fheasgair 's mo bheath' air claoidh
Mo rosg air dunadh 's a' bhas gun chli
Stiuir curs' an iar leam gu eilean ciatach
Gu Aignish sgiamhach far an d'araich mi
An sin gun cairich sibh mi 'san fhod
A measg mo chairdean 'smo shinnsrean coir
Ri tonnan barr-gheal a' bualadh traghad
'Sri machair Aignish nan laoigh 's nam bo
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drakonis
but I'll go wake up CJ, shall I?
Gorgeous sparse shivers of spirits here... makes you GLAD TO BE ALIVE instead! :-) Love the lean background drone so your voice stands out.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE!
ttfn,
Drakonis
Rebsie
Hehe ... thanks Drak. I'm being slightly facetious in saying it's about graveyards, it's really an achingly nostalgic emigrant song which happens to mention graveyards, but as you point out the melody is so pretty it defies the sadness of the lyrics.
Doug Somers
and essence of your subject exploring lament and loss. Very well sung! I kept imagining a few short, in the background fiddle or whistle notes here and there to support the melody, and to help wrap up the song. Probably influenced by the Capercaillie version stuck in my grey matter, which I think BTW does not capture the emotion so well as you have here.
Regardless of my mental wanderings, this is a beautiful and touching treatment of this song and it is a true pleasure to hear!
All the best,
Doug
Rebsie
You're not the only one influenced by Capercaillie, it was them I pinched it from. It's a huge compliment if you think I've captured the song's essence even better than that. Karen Matheson is definitely the Gaelic singer who's influenced me the most, her voice is lovely.
I hear what you're saying about the lack of instruments but I have a special fondness for these very sparse drone songs where the only harmony is made by the melody itself as it interacts with the drone. It kind of focuses the listener's attention on the voice and forces them to listen to it properly. :)
Doug Somers
that give the superior result. Karen's voice is indeed lovely, but it does not express to me, in this piece, the raw nuances of feeling you have captured so very well.
I'll probably have to return my Capercaillie fan club poster now.... :o)
Doug
jgurner
And what a wonderful present!
Personally, I think this should replace "Happy Birthday To You" as the traditional birthday song.
Rebsie
Ooh yes, I can't stand the conventional Happy Birthday song. Though at the theatre I used to belong to we had a slightly fruitier second verse which made it a bit more interesting.
Moviz
atmospheric Rebsie. Your voice really suits this lovely song..... the backing airy sounding drone is perfect giving a spacious feeling, Regards M
Rebsie
Thanks Maurice. The drone is made from a GB synth mixed with a real pipe drone (I happened to have one lying around which was in the right key.)
paddler
I wouldnt mind spending my birthday in a graveyard.Nicely sung - well pronounced what is Aignish?
paddler
a place 4 miles east of stornway? and the Aig is like 'eye' of a peninsula,perhaps
Rebsie
Absolutely right, Richard, it's right next to the Eye Peninsula on the Isle of Lewis.
bonnieprincejohnny
Despite my Scots heritage my Gaelic is somewhat flawed, however does part of this song translate as - I'm in the gloomy graveyard and I is well spooked innit ?
Rebsie
Yes, that's exactly it. Well done. Then the next line is about how bloody cold it is.
Mystified
What a beautiful gift.
Rebsie, your voice is sublime! :)
Feter
Such awesome singin Rebsie . what a precious gift
is this .wonderfull ..
and ye HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE
Peter Bauckham
Rebsie you're sounding better than ever! Love that drone too. A wonderful gift - for us all. Peter
slumbering
but today is my birthday, too! :)
I can't think of a lovelier gift, Rebsie, thank you! :D
It is so beautiful, in fact, it is bringing tears to my eyes... but i should expect that from you, shouldn't i?
cjhoose
to another scorpio! ;P
cjhoose
:D You're gonna make it easy to learn Gaelic Rebsie! I must go and read up on it now.
It is perfectly gloomy and yet ... yes ... quite the cheerful song! (That is, you chose right).
tapadh leat! (i think?)
Rebsie
I'm glad you like it. :)
Doadars Uncle
was all it to for me to download.
Wonderful! What is it that makes grievous music so pleasurable? I wonder if I should set it to repeat a couple of times?
Doug
kristyjo
Like Doug, I plan to set this to repeat a couple of times in a row. Awesome birthday song. I don't understand a drop of Gaelic, but I don't need to to enjoy this. Rebsie, your voice is gorgeous, and the sparse accompaniment of only drone brings that out so well. It also highlights how beautifully you stay in tune.
Yes, It's better than "Happy Birthday"!!
guitapick
...any way you can post the translation. I'm a little rusty on the Scottish side...;)
Happy Birthday, cjhoose...
gwhoose
you will spend your birthday in a graveyard. or at least what is left behind.
Rebsie
What a charming thought. :D
caroline
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARO1INE xoxoxox
damiengh
......but not the Angel of Death, oh no.
Beautiful Rebsie. Sure your voice wasn't used in "Lord of the Rings"?
Rebsie
Probably the Angel of Squishy Peat Bogs.
gail60
You have the most amazing, soothing, beautiful voice! Wonderful job here! Oh, and my birthday is in February. Thanks for sharing this. Happy Birthday Caroline!
c4rson
I sat one misty afternoon... in Glencoe... in the rain... Looking at the ancient mountains... disappearing into the clouds above... and you just brought every second back to me...
Can't say better than that...
*smiles*
amandamason@mac.
You have the most lovely voice - definitely describe it as shivers down the spine. Lucky Caroline!
Rebsie
Thanks very much Amanda ... you have a pretty fine voice yourself and I appreciate your kind words. :)
dwwave
Rebsie,
A interesting piece, Life at Birth and While Living,
Some's final resting place is ash, other's in a box with
a marker stone, what really happens is from above
Heightened
Wow - very haunting and beautifully song.
Three Cat Clem
First I heard of you. Beautiful work.
Will listen to more. Very unique.